Science backs Moss Landing desal proposal

MOSS LANDING &GT;&GT; Newly released environmental studies show a proposed desalination plant in Moss Landing would have a limited impact on the Monterey Bay.

The studies, undertaken during the past three years and released Monday at a symposium at the Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, also suggest DeepWater Desal's proposal to combine a regional desalination plant with a data center would have benefits that neither facility could attain on its own.

The release of the research marks the start of a full environmental review of the project, a potential future water source for Soquel Creek Water District.

"What's exciting for us is that our theories have been validated by these studies," said DeepWater spokesman David Armanasco.

The proposal calls for tapping into the Monterey Submarine Canyon, and using the chilly seawater to cool the data center before salts are removed to create drinking water.

The project, which would be built on 110 acres on Dolan Road, would produce 25,000 acre-feet of fresh water annually. To put that in perspective, Watsonville, which is not involved in the project, supplies about 7,000 acre feet of water to 65,000 people yearly.

The studies found:

• Fish kill would be limited because the deep water, where the intake pipe would be placed, contains a lower density of fish larvae than upper ocean levels.

• Brine pumped back into the ocean would meet current salinity rules, as well as anticipated stricter future standards.

• Pulling water from a deep water canyon faces fewer geological risks than wells drilled below the surface, and is more likely to provide a steady supply.

While DeepWater proponents see the proposed plant as producing a water supply for customers across the region, Soquel Creek appears to be the only agency in Santa Cruz County to have expressed interest publicly.

Armanasco said Monterey Peninsula Water Management Agency also is looking at the DeepWater project as a "fall-back" position in case a rival plant proposed for north of Marina by California American Water doesn't get built.

Salinas officials have signed a water purchase agreement with DeepWater.

Soquel Creek relies on an overdrafted groundwater basin, and has struggled to find alternative sources of water.

Pajaro Valley Water Management District, which also is wrestling with groundwater overdraft, has rejected desalination in favor of local water supply projects and conservation.

"We are interesting in following developments in this area, but we don't view desal as a feasible solution for agricultural irrigation supply," said hydrologist Brian Lockwood.

About 85 percent of Pajaro Valley water is used for agriculture.

Soquel Creek, which serves 35,000 people from Capitola to La Selva, spent years working with Santa Cruz on a joint desalination project, but the project was suspended in 2013 due to resistance in Santa Cruz.

The agency has turned its attention to the DeepWater project, and is splitting the cost of a $25,000 study on construction and operations costs with Monterey Peninsula Water Management District.

No one from Soquel Creek attended Monday's symposium.

But Terry Tompkins, deputy director of Santa Cruz Water Department, was there, describing himself as a "curious bystander."

Tompkins said DeepWater proponents have a lot of work ahead preparing the full environmental impact report. "It certainly seems feasible," he said. "This one seems to have certain side benefits."